Former Pensacola High star quarterback Jalen Spencer transferred to UWF this offseason after playing with the University of South Florida since 2012.

Spencer – who recorded 19 tackles and an interception in three seasons at USF – led PHS to a state championship in 2009. He'll now look to find a role in the secondary of first-year defensive coordinator Darian Dulin.

Even as competition for the Argos’ starting quarterback position continues into the dog days of August, Shinnick said he has no timetable for finding “the right guy.”

Grey Jackson and Mike Beaudry continue to take the majority of the reps on first and second string offense, with Jackson connecting on a 70-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Grant and Beaudry scoring on a 5-yard quarterback keeper in Saturday’s practice.

“Right now they have taken a good step [towards separating themselves],” Shinnick said. “Kalu Onumah has also had a good start so he’s starting to move in that direction.”

While Shinnick wasn’t ready to commit to a starting quarterback or kicker on Saturday, he did give a nod to his top returning rusher that his job is secure.

“(Chris) Schwarz has earned the starting position,” Shinnick said. “When we were doing short yardage in the first team period. He got us a couple first downs. He’ll be the starter.”

Schwarz – a sophomore from New Port Richey – led the Argos with 350 rushing yards last season and averaged 31.82 yards per game.

Improving on Schwarz’s totals is certainly a top goal for the Argos, who were picked to finish seventh in the nine-team Gulf South Conference in the coaches’ preseason poll.

That projection wasn’t terribly surprising to Shinnick, who said the Argos still have plenty to prove.

“That’s probably about where we should be,” Shinnick said. “There are a whole lot of teams that have been doing this a lot longer than us. They picked us seventh last time and I was shocked by that, so I guess they feel we’re the same team that we were last year.”